AIChE Spring Meeting Offers YPs Professional Development & Networking Opportunities | AIChE

AIChE Spring Meeting Offers YPs Professional Development & Networking Opportunities

Article Written By: Loraine Kasprzak

           The AIChE Spring Meeting and 14th Global Congress on Process Safety (GCPS) will offer YPs the opportunity to explore the latest trends and connect with more than 2,200 chemical engineering professionals at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL on April 22-26. 

            With over 200 technical sessions, more than 800 papers and 12 topical conferences, the meeting offers many opportunities for you to meet with and learn from experienced and influential figures in the chemical engineering field. Whatever your role, you’ll gain knowledge and skills you can use immediately.

            On Monday, April 23, plan to attend the morning AGILE Keynote Address to hear AGILE award recipient Mark Vergnano speak about "Building a Winning Culture: Harnessing the Power of Values."  Vergnano was named the first CEO of The Chemours Company prior to its spinoff from DuPont in July 2015. Under his leadership and with an ambitious five-point transformation plan as its blueprint, Chemours navigated financial uncertainties and addressed the challenges associated with transforming itself into a thriving Fortune 500 company. Vergnano will address the corporate values, including Safety Obsession, which have landed Chemours on the path to success.           

Michael J. Graff will present the 14th GCPS Welcome Plenary Keynote, "Process Safety for a Sustainable World" on April 23.  The CEO and President of American Air Liquide and Executive Vice President of Air Liquide Group, Graff has established his credibility with over three decades of experience working in the energy, chemical and polymers industries all over America, Asia, and Europe. 

            During this fast paced and energetic event, you can sit in on topical conferences, such as Upstream Engineering and Flow Assurance, Gas Utilization, Refinery Processing, Big Data Analytics, and Emerging Topics in Clean Energy.  Visit Program-at-a-Glance for session dates and locations.

            Check out the sessions that were designed with YPs in mind, such as Big Data Analytics from Vendor and Industry Perspectives, Ethylene Plant Operations, and Process Control Monitoring and Analytics.  YP tutorial sessions will discuss Environmental Issues and Controls in Select Industrial Sectors, and Separation Process Fundamentals. You may also want to go to the April 24 YP Professional Development Workshop for insights that can help you advance your career.

Don’t miss out on the opening reception, coffee breaks, conference-wide happy hour, and Young Professionals Mixer, which will offer opportunities for you to network and connect with other AIChE members and the Young Professionals Community (YPC). You are welcome to bring a colleague below the age of 35 to the meeting, and your plus-one will be offered half price admission.

            You can attend luncheons each day to listen to featured speakers, such as Andrew Lenzen, a Special Agent for the FBI, who will talk at the Monday luncheon about the “Cyber Threat Landscape.” Tuesday’s luncheon will feature Delia Contreras, who will speak on "Managing Process Safety Risk in a Business Growth Environment." Contreras is VP of Engineering – ES, Global Supply Chain NALCO Champion An Ecolab Company. At the Wednesday luncheon, Jun Mutoh, Executive Vice President of JXTG Holdings, Inc., will discuss "Beyond Operations Management Systems – Establishing a Solid Safety Culture."

            The spring meeting will also feature an Industry 4.0 Topical Conference, which feature expert sessions on Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics, and Smart Manufacturing.  A "What Is Industry 4.0?” panel discussion will be offered, as well as exhibits by Endeavor Robotics and Flyability in the Exhibit Hall.

            Catch up with old friends and make new ones at YP Mixer 8:00 to 10:30pm Sunday at Hawks Landing Restaurant, then attend the YP General Meeting on Monday at 4:00pm  in the Los Angeles Room.

            Finally, visit the Exhibit Hall during lunches, coffee breaks or evening receptions to connect with and learn from exhibitors about new technologies, products and services. Stop by the AIChE booth to meet other members and staff, and learn about the work AIChE is doing in the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), RAPID Manufacturing Institute for Process Intensification, and the Fuels & Petrochemicals Division.  You will also want to get in on the many exhibitor and AIChE giveaways and prizes.

            For more about the 2018 Spring Meeting and 14th Global Conference on Process Safety, visit AIChE.org/Spring